Table of Contents:
Chapter 1: In the Beginning: Preparation
Chapter 2: Hunger and Weight Loss
Chapter 3: The Detox
Chapter 4: The Diet, Stage 1
Chapter 5: The Antifungals
Chapter 6: Vitamins, Minerals, and Herbs
Chapter 7: Digestion, Indigestion, and Depression
Chapter 8: Natural & Commercial Probiotics
Chapter 9: Candidaâs Connection to Food Allergies
Chapter 10: Candida albicans: Immunity and Stress
Chapter 11: The Diet, Stage 2 and 3
Chapter 12: Recipes and Making a Change
IMPORTANT
The information offered here is a Candida treatment diet and treatment protocol consisting of specific foods that have been tested for use on a Candida diet and supplements. This is not part of a medical procedure which includes any treatments other than a diet and supplements. If you have specific problems which may require the assistance of a medical professional, then it is up to you to seek these treatments as they are not a part of this diet. We are not medical professionals, and therefore we do not have the authority to advise anyone on a treatment which is defined as a medical procedure. All we can do is to offer our own individual experiences and the research and experiments that weâve conducted or bothered to research. If you know or believe that you need medical help, then please seek the consultation of a registered medical professional.
In the Beginning: Preparation
Chapter 1: The Preparation Stage
In the beginning of this Candida protocol and diet, you will be asked to go through a preparation stage, and please donât think for a second that this is not an important part of your treatment, because itâs extremely important to do this in order to ensure the safe success of your entire treatment.
Part of this stage should be preparing you for what you are about to do. You canât assume thatâs it alright to go into this treatment with the thought, âIâll just do my best, if Iâm not that strict with the diet and cheat a few times, it canât make that much difference to the outcome.â If this is your mind set, then youâre going to suffer from your Candida symptoms much longer than necessary.
Understanding what Youâre going to Accomplish: I don’t know a single person who had Candida overgrowth and managed to reach a symptom-free state with their Candida infestation who will claim that it was easy. Many of those who have been through the treatment believe that only the strongest among us will complete both the diet and protocol in order to bring their infestation under complete control. But my belief is this: When faced with an illness that is so devastating and so debilitating that it literally takes away the happiness, enjoyment and health in our lives, I believe that we are all capable of gathering the strength and the will with which we are all born, and you alone will be the reason that you are able to gain control of the Candida albicans overgrowth which has changed your life so completely.
So, one of the most important things you will want to remember about the Candida diet is this; when you eat a food that can feed the Candida it means survival for the Candida, and survival for the Candida means a longer treatment period for you. But not only does eating food for the Candida to feed on mean a longer treatment period and therefore a longer time spent on the strict diet, but in most cases feeding the fungi also means an increase in your Candida symptoms and an increase in the severity of Leaky Gut Syndrome if you have contracted this along with your infestation; and if you are not already suffering from this, the longer you have the infestation, the better chance you have of contracting Leaky Gut Syndrome. The reason for this is because, if the population of Candida increases for any reason such as a continued food supply for them, then that means there will be an increased number of Candida albicans in your intestines which are all capable of penetrating your intestinal walls with their hyphae, the long, root-like structures used for boring into the host, or in this case, your intestinal walls. This will only result in further inflammation, more pain, and more digestive problems for you to deal with. The only cure for a Leaky Gut Syndrome which is caused by a Candida overgrowth in the intestines is to significantly reduce the population of the Candida in the intestines, and you canât do this as long as you are feeding them the foods which allow them to survive and reproduce.
So what does the strength and will that I’m speaking of mean in simple terms? It means that, in order to take control of your debilitating Candida infestation and bring the symptoms to an end, you’ll need a desire to be rid of the infestation more than you want that cookie, candy, pizza, soda, baked potato, or piece of cake you’re craving.
What Has to Take Place: First, you need to try to understand that there is no diet which can cure a Candida infestation alone; neither can an army of antifungals. Using a diet and antifungals alone will never bring you to a completely symptom-free state which means it will not bring your infestation under control. However, it has been proven that, in most Candida cases a diet which is designed to rebuild the immune system and adrenals and at the same time avoid feeding the Candida combined with a proper supplement protocol will make it possible to bring your infestation under control and reach a completely symptom-free state, but in order to do this, you will have to avoid the food on which the Candida can survive on during the duration of the treatment, otherwise, even if you are able to bring the infestation under control, it could take months or even years longer to reach this state.
So, if the diet and the antifungals canât bring the infestation under control, why bother with either of these?
World War II? If you remember your history classes, try to remember what took place during World War II; history tells us that the most common weapons used were armored tanks, infantry, battle ships, submarines, aircraft carriers, and aircrafts which were all meant to lower the numbers of the enemy. Individually, these were used in often small skirmishes in order to thin out the numbers of the enemy, but none of these skirmishes or even major battles were enough to actually win the war. So, eventually, in order to end WWII, the United States realized that they needed something that would change the enemyâs environment enough to hinder their ability to continue with their attack.
What happened to change this environment of course were two atomic bombs which rendered the enemy incapable of continuing to attack as they had for years. These two atomic weapons completely changed the environment of the enemy by destroying the entire 5th Division, 59th Army, the 224th Division, the logistic base for their military, the 22nd and 45th Separate Battalions, not to mention the storage of weapons and the weapon plants which were destroyed. You can imagine how this completely changed the environment to the point of being helpless and eventually surrendering. Their military was simply unable to continue without the proper environment.
This is similar to what happens with the diet and antifungals; they continue to lower the population of the Candida in the intestines, and after the numbers have been reduced by a significant degree, we remove the antifungals and begin to greatly increase the amount of probiotics and kefir in order to replenish the beneficial bacteria in the intestines. This single action will begin to drastically change the environment which was needed for the survival of the Candida. By this time there will already be enough of the population of the Candida destroyed so that the die-off and toxins caused by the bombardment of probiotics should not overwhelm the system when they are released by the millions of dying Candida in the end battle.
In other words, after the antifungals, vitamins, herbs, and the diet have done their part, the beneficial bacteria with which you replenish the intestines will be your final weapon.
Not so fast: The first part of your war isn’t going to happen overnight; in fact, at times it may happen so slowly that you’ll sometimes wonder if anything at all is happening with your infestation. But if you’re remaining strictly on the Candida diet and are using the supplement protocol, then, every single day, whether you feel it or not, Candida will be dying and your treatment will be working towards an end to your symptoms.
So as you see, the key factor to the entire treatment working is this: You absolutely must combine the diet with a good Candida supplement protocol in order to become symptom-free and cure your Leaky Gut Syndrome if you have that problem and rebuild your immune system and adrenal glands. Neither the diet nor the protocol alone will allow you to reach your goal.
The strict diet and the supplement protocol combined are designed to end all symptoms of your Candida infestation, and as the infestation begins to leave your body, the Leaky Gut Syndrome, the food allergies you have contracted which are caused by Leaky Gut Syndrome, your immune system, your adrenal glands, your digestive problems, and all the other problems you may have experienced because of the Candida overgrowth will begin to disappear as well. But before any of this can begin to take place, the population of the Candida must be reduced; none of the symptoms and problems can begin to fade as long as youâre living with literally billions and billions of Candida albicans inhabiting your body. So your first job and accomplishment will be to bring about a reduction in the population of the Candida.
Important Factors: The most important factors in your entire treatment will be the diet, the changes of environment you bring about in your intestines, and this will depend on the type and amount of probiotics and kefir which you will use as your treatment advances. These are the factors which will eventually bring about the symptom-free state you’ve been searching for. The antifungals are in place only to reduce the population of the Candida to a degree, to avoid an overload of the die-off toxins that the dying Candida will secrete, and hopefully shorten the duration of the treatment. As already stated, antifungals alone cannot cure the infestation; they only have the ability to reduce the number of Candida to a comparatively lesser degree, and this can only take place if you are not feeding the Candida.
Supplements during the Preparation Stage: During the preparation stage, you should try to obtain a supplement called Molybdenum Amino Acid Chelate and take this supplement for three days prior to the start of your treatment; this includes before you start the detox if you choose to do one, or before the diet if you decide to skip the detox. Aldehyde, ethanol, and ammonia are toxins, and depending on the specific toxin, either living or dying Candida will be continually excreting these toxins into your body. The toxins can cause liver damage, dreadful, debilitating brain fog which comes very close to mimicking the experience of being drunk or having a hangover from alcohol; the toxins can also cause horrible flu-like symptoms, and dizziness, all of which are your bodyâs physical reactions to the Candida toxins. Anyone who is on a Candida treatment needs to take some type of supplement to protect the liver, kidneys and the body in general from these three very dangerous Candida toxins.
Molybdenum Amino Acid Chelate: Â As already stated, this is a product which you should absolutely not be without if you are treating a Candida albicans infestation. Molybdenum is actually an essential trace mineral found naturally in the human body and is capable of detoxing the Candida toxins from your body, lessening the effects of die-off. Be sure to purchase the form of Molybdenum which is referred to as âMolybdenum Amino Acid Chelateâ only; this should be printed on the label either on the back or front of the container, but usually in the âIngredientsâ section, and it should be in pill form, 250 mcg per dose. Most people can take 250 mcg of Molybdenum three times a day in the beginning of the treatment, especially when the die-off symptoms are at their worst. You can take it at any time of the day with or without food. The pill form is much more convenient than the liquid and easier to measure. As stated, you can start the Molybdenum right away, at least three days before starting a detox or the diet, and certainly before you start experiencing the die-off effects.
There are other excellent products which can be used to lessen the damage which can occur from the die-off toxins in your body; one is called CandidaOFF made by Probacto. This comes in a liquid form and will help you with the severe headaches, brain fog, and other symptoms on an immediate basis; because of this, you wonât need to take it unless you begin to feel one of the toxic die-off reactions coming on. As far as the dosage, follow the directions on the bottle.
Another important supplement for the preparation as well as the entire treatment is Milk Thistle which is an herb and will work to keep your liver healthy by protecting it from the toxins; it can also heal the liver of any damage which may have already occurred. Like molybdenum, milk thistle should be started before you start the detox, diet or protocol and can be used throughout your entire treatment to treat potential problems with your liver. According to research, most people can take up to 420 mg a day, and the herb should contain at least 70-80% silymarin or silybin which is the potent constituent in Milk Thistle. The percentage of silymarin should be shown on the label.
Vitamin C: Another term for vitamin C is ascorbic acid which a strong antioxidant which will help to cleanse your body during a detox. Vitamin C also contains diuretic properties which means that it will aid the body in removing excess fluid containing toxins. You can take at least 3000 mg a day in 1000 mg doses.
Nettle Leaf Tea: On the same day that you start taking Molybdenum Amino Acid Chelate, you can also start drinking a detox herbal tea called Nettle Leaf. This is an antioxidant which will also supply a safe form of copper to your body which sometimes begins to deplete if you should have to take the Molybdenum for a prolonged period of time because of the die-off toxins. Drink a few cups of the tea every day, or you can take the nettle leaf herb in capsule form if you prefer. A big plus with drinking Nettle leaf is that it also has the ability to strengthen the kidneys, and support both your thyroid and adrenal glands during your treatment.
Remember; there are five different supplements which can help reduce the effects of the die-off toxins as well as protecting your body form the toxins; Molybdenum Amino Acid Chelate, CandidaOFF by Probacto, Milk Thistle herb, Vitamin C, and  Nettle Leaf tea.
I have chosen specific herbs because I have used them and recommended them with excellent results. If you do get another product, I would ensure that it is high quality. If you are looking for a Molybdenum extract instead of capsules, it must be alcohol free.
WARNING: Many people can be allergic to herbs, therefore anytime you start a new food or a new supplement, you should start with an extremely small amount to be certain that it is safe for you to take.
Hunger and Weight Loss
Chapter 2
Hunger: While you are on the Candida diet you will experience an abnormal feeling of hunger, sometimes for quite some time. The reason is not because of a lack of good, healthy food (unless youâre just not eating), but rather itâs a direct result of the Candida albicans in your body and a result of your body adapting to a new, healthier way of eating.
Iâm fairly sure that, if you start a good Candida diet, you will probably feel hunger on a constant basis for a while, but you are hungry because of the Candida albicans residing in your intestines and body, and not because of a lack of food unless youâre simply not eating the food which is allowed on the diet. There is a definite difference between how it feels to experience hunger during a Candida infestation and the normal feeling of hunger when you are healthy and well. You can look at it this way; youâre on a Candida diet meaning youâre trying very hard to avoid food for the Candida in your system; so the Candida in your body needs food, theyâre hungry because of the diet you’re on, therefore this creates a feeling of hunger in you.
The human body can quickly adapt to the amount and type of food that it’s fed as long as it is receiving healthy food; common sense will tell you this if you just think about it. Talk to anyone who has been on a carbohydrate-free diet in order to lose weight and most of them will tell you that, after several days to a week on the diet, the hunger normally disappears, and they no longer feel as though they’re starving. This happens because the human body was made to adapt to various healthy diets.
But that’s not the case with something as abnormal as a Candida infestation. As long as the hungry Candida albicans are in your body, you’ll continue to feel as though you’re starving until you significantly reduce the numbers of Candida. I know this as a fact because today I am eating basically the same number of calories as I did on the diet, the only difference is that I no longer have the infestation and therefore the ‘starving’ feeling that I continually experienced at that time is no longer with me.
To sum it up; as long as you continue to experience that Iâm-starving feeling, then the population of the Candida albicans in your body is at a high infestation level, and it’s still much too early to introduce potentially dangerous food items to your diet. I know this is not what you want to hear, but candy-coating the entire ordeal would not be doing you a favor. To put it as plain as I can; reduce the population of the Candida, and you’ll get rid of the hunger feeling. The only alternative is to feed the Candida, and they will reward you by removing the hunger (so to speak), but then you’ll be back to square one with your symptoms and treatment.
The Problem of Weight Loss: A Candida infestation in the human body will normally cause weight gain. There are several reasons for this, but they all have to do with the fact that your body is completely out of balance; in addition, before you go on a Candida diet, youâre probably hungry all the time (this is the Candida, not you) therefore youâre eating and youâre probably eating foods that the Candida want and need, because thatâs what Candida overgrowth does; it makes you have cravings for unhealthy foods.
But once you start on a good Candida diet, weight loss is usually a big, worrisome problem for most Candida sufferers. To put this as simply as I can, there is generally a combination of reasons for weight loss during a Candida diet. One, youâre naturally eating less because, well letâs face it, the foods on a Candida diet do not taste as good as the high carbohydrate and high sugar diet that you were probably used to before starting the diet. The second factor is the type of foods youâre now eating. Youâre not longer eating the foods that would normally cause a person to gain extra weight; again, the high carbohydrate and sugar products such as soda, cakes, cookies, pizza, etc. The truth is though after being on the diet for a while and feeling so much healthier, you wonât even want to go back to those foods.
To be honest, the only real way to prevent more weight loss is by obtaining the equal number of calories that youâre body is burning every day. If you want to gain back some of the weight youâve already lost, then youâll need to eat more calories than your body is burning. This is really the only way youâll accomplish maintaining or increasing your weight whether you have a Candida infestation or not.
The Detox
Chapter 3
Before you start your Candida diet or your treatment, you may wish to do a detox or cleanse of your body. Before you start a detox period or a good diet because of a Candida albicans overgrowth, you must first consider the possibility of causing debilitating toxins to be released in your body. This release of toxins caused by the dying Candida is referred to as Herxheimer Reaction, or the more simple term of “die-off symptoms.”
What is Die-Off
Die-off symptoms can start anytime after you’ve started the detox. Die-off is caused by the aldehyde toxins that the dying Candida release, and the toxins are poisonous to your body; they can make you sick and they can damage your organs, specifically the liver where the toxins are concentrated. This is why our protocol strives to produce a slower progress instead of advancing in an aggressive manner.
Before starting the detox or diet, you should purchase a product by the name of Molybdenum Amino Acid Chelate in 250 mcg pills. Take three of the 250 mcg pills a day to help prevent the die-off symptoms.
If you still experience some of the die-off symptoms, a long soak in a hot tub of water will make you feel better by causing perspiration which helps remove the toxins. The detox should last only as long as you are comfortable with it, if you become sick, constipated, or weak, stop the detox and start the strict diet.
Detox/Cleanse: The detox/cleanse stage of a Candida treatment can last from one day to two weeks, but my advice is no longer than seven days, and less is acceptable. The length of time depends on your health and weight; so take into account the way you feel while on the detox and how much time you have to invest in it. Also, it often depends on whether or not a person is working because sometimes more protein and calories and just general food intake is necessary for a person who is working on a daily basis among other activities. I can say that the detox can potentially jump-start the treatment and, providing you do not stray from any stage of the treatment, the detox period may shorten the length of the treatment. It’s really completely up to you to decide how long you wish stay on the detox, or if you want to use it or not.
NOTE: If you do manual labor or work long hours, or for any other reason find that it is extremely draining on your energy and body to remain on the detox, it’s acceptable at any time to stop your detox and begin The Strict Candida Diet.
Detoxing
If you follow the detox information, and adhere strictly to the fresh, green and organic (if possible) vegetables suggested below, and leave all meat, fish and fowl out of your diet, then you should be able to complete a detox program without literally starving yourself. Itâs preferable that you make juice from fresh, green vegetables as often as possible. I personally use the Omega juicer but any good juicer will work.
The Vegetables
- Asparagus
- Bok choy
- Broccoli
- Cabbage
- Celery
- Collard greens
- Cucumber
- Dandelion greens
- Endive
- Green beans
- Kale
- Lettuce
- Spinach
- Swiss chard
If you feel that you must have some form of protein to get through your work day, you can add organic hemp seeds or organic chia seeds to the detox (chia seeds are part of the detox drink shown below. I use Chia seed powder because this one is sprouted for additional health benefits, and itâs powdered so itâs easier to absorb). If this still isn’t enough to keep your strength up and get you through your day, you can do a less strenuous cleanse by eating only green vegetables, hemp seeds or chia seeds, and organic eggs several times a day along with the detox drinks shown below and lemon water. Do not eat the other vegetables on the strict diet list such as rutabaga or Brussels sprouts until you start the diet. Some of these vegetables are antifungals which can cause toxins to be released in your body. The toxins in your body would erase any positive benefits offered by detoxing your body.
Drinking one glass of warm water before having anything else in the morning is a perfect way to start the day by flushing your kidneys.
Lemon Water for Detoxing
A detox lemon drink is about as simple as they come. Simply use a whole, fresh lemon; squeeze the juice into a glass of water and drink up. You can do this three times a day, morning, noon, and night, using a whole lemon each time. You really shouldn’t have a sweetener on the cleanse, but if you absolutely canât stand the taste of the lemon water, you could add just a bit of Stevia (natural sweetener) for taste, but donât overdo it with the sweetener on the detox diet as this can lessen the effect. One thing to note is that many of these so-called Stevia’s will not be true stevia. The best way to tell is to look at the ingredients, it should just be labeled
Daily Detox Drink
A detox drink that is safer and easier to handle than those which suggests psyllium husk powder as a choice of fiber is below.
- 1 large cup of water
- 1 flat tablespoon of chia seeds (soak the chia seeds in water for 24 hours before using)
- 1 flat tablespoon of sodium-bentonite powder mixed in a glass of water.
Keep in mind that bentonite doesn’t always mix well with water; because of this you should shake the mixture for a full minute or so just before drinking it. Follow the detox drink with a glass of water as soon as youâve finished the mixed drink.
Do not take this detox drink for more than one week, and stop taking it sooner if you experience constipation.
OIL
You can use extra virgin olive oil with your vegetables; I have chosen this one as a popular product, but you can get very high end olive oils at your local supermarkets as well. You should have several teaspoons of EVOO every day during the detox. DO NOT ingest organic virgin coconut oil while on the detox; you can start this oil once you’re on the diet.
Salt
Salt or sodium is essential to life itself, so don’t miss a day without ingesting sea salt in some way. You can add it to vegetables or even to vegetable juice. Himalayan salt is what I prefer as it helps maintain a healthy acid-alkaline balance.
Liver Detox Drink
- 1 cup water
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- Small chunk of fresh ginger
Blend all the ingredients together and drink twice a day.
Milk Thistle
An important supplement to take a few days before starting the detox is Milk Thistle which is an herb and will work to keep your liver healthy by protecting it from the toxins; it can also heal the liver from any damage which may have already occurred. Like molybdenum, milk thistle can be started before you start the detox, diet or protocol and can be used throughout your entire treatment to treat or to prevent potential problems with your liver. You can take up to 420 mg a day, and the herb should contain at least 70-80% silymarin or silybin which is the potent constituent in Milk Thistle. The percentage of silymarin should be shown on the label.
This herb will bind with as well as coat the liver cells, and the photochemical properties can heal previous liver damage as well as protect the liver from future damage. The silymarin shields the liver from toxic substances. This flavonoid also encourages the liver to grow new cells. Milk thistle capsules can be taken throughout your treatment.
As with all herbs, an allergic reaction to milk thistle is possible. In this case your body mistakes silymarin, the flavonoid contained within milk thistle, for a harmful toxin and raises histamine levels in an attempt to destroy it. An allergic reaction could possibly cause hives or persistent itching, and in more serious cases, swelling of the face, neck and throat; difficulty breathing and heart palpitations are rarer but still a possibility. For these reasons, you should start with the lowest dose possible and work up to the higher dose.
*The statement above applies to all supplements including herbs and vitamins as anyone can experience an allergy to any new supplement introduced into the body whether they have leaky gut syndrome or not.
Drinking Dandelion Tea is another possibility during the detox period. This herbal tea is used for a stronger liver detoxification.
Vitamins During the Detox Period: The only vitamin that you really need during the detox or cleanse is Vitamin C. You can take 3000 mg a day. This will help remove the toxins released by the dying Candida.
Digestive Bitters
In addition to the milk thistle, a product called Swedish Digestive Bitters is an excellent supplement for cleaning and flushing the liver as well as the bile ducts and the gallbladder, plus they will increase the flow of digestive juices which helps resolve any disturbances in the digestive process characterized by flatulence, heartburn and bloating. In addition to all of this, bitters stimulate the repair of the intestinal wall lining or mucosa, so the bitters can be used for healing Leaky Gut Syndrome which stems from the Candida infestation.
The dosage suggested on the bottle is not necessary because the bitters work simply by nerve stimulation when they come into contact with the bitter receptors (vagus nerves) on the back of the tongue which then releases the needed enzymes. This process presents a cleansing effect on the liver so it is important to drink plenty of water throughout the day to prevent a strong detox reaction. Since the idea is to stimulate the bitter receptors on the tongue, you only need to taste the bitterness of the herbs; therefore 1/2 of a dropper full on the tongue before meals will be enough to do the job, regardless of what the label may say. No matter what you read from here on out, you will not need to purchase additional enzymes as long as you use Digestive Bitters. Remember that youâll need to take them before or immediately following a meal â followed by plenty of water.
If you can’t complete a one week detox period, doing the detox for a day or more is more than acceptable.
Do not take antifungals during your detox period as this will only create more toxins and more work for your body.
NOTE: If you go 24 hours without a bowel movement while on the detox, stop taking the bentonite clay immediately and try one or more of the remedies shown in the constipation remedies below.
Budget
I would hate for anybody to be unable to treat their body because they are unable to afford the supplements. Many of these ingredients will go a very long way, but if you have to pick and choose I would buy Molybdenum Amino Acid Chelate, Probacto Probiotics, Nettle Leaf Tea CandidaOFF and Milk Thistle. You should make all the decisions yourself though, depending on what you feel your needs are.
Constipation
It is extremely important to avoid becoming constipated during the detox period or any other part of this treatment because the goal of the treatment is to eliminate both toxins and Candida and not allow the toxins or the dead Candida to build up in your body.
The herb, slippery elm, is an excellent natural supplement used for constipation. When taking slippery elm you should be sure to you drink plenty of water with it.
Dr Miller’s Holy Tea, Swedish Digestive Bitters and Trimethylglycine (TMG) can all help with digestion and constipation.
Taking two teaspoons of olive oil after food followed by a cup of very warm water has been known to help the situation.
Please click here for part two of the Complete Candida Detox.